Peony Petals as Stationery, Cultural Affection Across Continents

Recently, the "Chinese: A Timeless Gift" International Chinese Language Day cultural event, jointly organized by the Confucius Institute at the Federal University of Minas Gerais in Brazil and the Publicity Department of Chengwu County, Shandong Province, was successfully held in the university’s auditorium. Through a cultural fair themed "Peonies Convey Affection · Heze Extends an Invitation, Fragrant Rendezvous in Brazil," the event wove a tapestry of civilizational dialogue across mountains and oceans.

The opening ceremony coincided with "Grain Rain," one of China’s 24 solar terms. As rain poured outside, Cui Guangying, the Chinese dean of the Confucius Institute, began with the legend of *Cangjie creating Chinese characters*, unveiling the mystical connection between Chinese script and nature. When she unfurled a meticulously painted peony artwork, Brazilian teachers and students held their breath—the layered, gradient petals shimmered like flowing silk under the lights. "In China, peonies symbolize prosperity and auspiciousness, and today they serve as cultural ambassadors bridging our worlds," Dean Cui remarked.

At the "Peony Messages" postcard wall, Lucas, an architecture student, clumsily traced the Chinese characters for "China" with a brush, while his peer Zhu Xun carefully copied Li Bai’s verse *"Clouds yearn for her attire, flowers long for her countenance."* "Though I don’t understand tonal patterns, the structure of Chinese characters feels like architectural blueprints—full of beauty," Zhu admitted. In the calligraphy zone, Dean Cui guided students’ wrists to demonstrate brushstrokes. Though the ink on their hastily written character *"harmony"* (和) was still wet, onlookers marveled: "The curve of the *'mouth'* radical hides the wisdom of balance!"

At the photo booth, ten sets of Hanfu were snatched up within half an hour. Sofia, an education major, adjusted the folds of her *qixiong ruqun* (high-waisted Hanfu dress) repeatedly, saying, "These fabrics are speaking—they’re teaching me how Tang Dynasty women walked." When the guzheng melody *"High Mountains and Flowing Water"* began, Hanfu-clad participants instinctively formed a semicircle. Diego, an architecture student filming the tea ceremony, whispered, "How many strings does this instrument have? How is it different from a guitar?"

The Chinese snack ring-toss area buzzed with cheers. When philosophy student Leon successfully hooked a bag of White Rabbit candies, the applause rivaled that of a soccer goal. At the intangible cultural heritage station, peony paper-cuttings bloomed in endless variations, while vermilion "Persimmons Bring Good Fortune" prints from the stamping zone already graced Brazilian students’ notebook covers. "So ‘fish’ in China isn’t just food—it’s a wish for ‘abundance year after year’!" exclaimed Caroline, holding her stamped artwork after mastering the pronunciation of *"yu"* (鱼).

As the event concluded, Chengwu County, Shandong’s "Peony Capital," extended a video invitation: "Come touch real petals in the homeland of peonies." In the auditorium, students adorned with peony hairpins and clutching panda plushies eagerly asked, "Will we receive this ‘Chinese gift’ again next year?" The seeds of cultural exchange had already taken root—bathed in Eastern sunlight and nourished by foreign dew, they are destined to blossom into transcendent beauty, bridging latitudes and longitudes with understanding and love.